The Hanover County Board of Supervisors has appointed John A. Budesky as the next County Administrator. Mr. Budesky, who currently serves as the Goochland County Administrator, will replace Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris, Jr. who announced his retirement last November after 35 years with the County and 15 years as County Administrator. During its meeting on Wednesday, March 25, the Board unanimously approved an employment agreement with Mr. Budesky. The agreement provides an annual salary of $220,000.
Board Chair Aubrey Stanley said, “The Board is pleased that John is returning to Hanover County to serve as its Administrator. He already had a good reputation in Hanover and the Richmond region and has proven himself as the Goochland County Administrator. We look forward to his leadership of the County workforce in the implementation of the Board’s vision for Hanover County.”
The Board of Supervisors conducted a national search for the new county administrator, assisted by The Berkley Group, from Bridgewater, VA. The Berkley Group received 32 applications and interviewed thirteen candidates. It then assisted the Board in selecting three finalists for interviews with the Supervisors.
Mr. Budesky has served as the Goochland County Administrator since 2016. From 2013 to 2016, he was a Deputy County Administrator in Hanover responsible for finance and management services, including budget, accounting, purchasing, payroll, information technologies, internal audit, assessment, and general services. Mr. Budesky’s earlier public employment included service as City Manager of the City of Manassas, Executive Director of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission, and County Administrator in New Kent County, Virginia. He started his local government management career in 1997 in Hagerstown, MD, serving as a county department head and then as assistant city manager. Mr. Budesky has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a Masters of Public Administration degree from Virginia Tech. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the Virginia Local Government Management Association (VLGMA), a member of the board of directors of Leadership Metro Richmond, and an adjunct instructor in the Local Government Certificate and Masters of Public Administration programs at Virginia Tech.
“I am excited about being given the privilege of returning to Hanover County to serve its citizens,” Budesky said. “Although I have enjoyed my time in Goochland County and wouldn’t have considered any another position, Hanover holds a special place in my heart and with my family, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I look forward to working with the Board of Supervisors and to building on the good record of the current administration for the betterment of the community."
Mr. Budesky plans to assume his new role as Hanover County Administrator as soon as July 1 but no later than September 1.